Monday, July 16, 2012

Expedia Japan Office Meet: An Afternoon to Remember

The clock strikes 11 and a petite figure with youthful childlike demeanor turns up at my hotel Villa Fontaine lobby.

Arti from India? She enthusiastically questions with enquiring eyes.

Yes, and you must be Sayaka from Expedia! I reply excitedly.

She nods with a huge warm grin... and thereon begins my
first encounter with the Japanese from close quarters for the
first time in the trip .......

She was Sayaka Hirayama, marketing executive for Expedia and my sweet host for the trip. A visit to the Expedia office in Japan was one of the many things that were on my to-do-list in Japan and frankly speaking, I was quite nervous about it. Since I didn’t quite know what to expect out of it, I had come to harbor my very own fanciful qualms of boring presentations and endless introductions and secretly wished for it to get over soon... even before embarking on the trip.

However, it wasn’t long till I realized that all my self imposed nervousness and fears were just that... a fancy.

At the office, which was just a stone's throw away from our hotel Villa Fontaine Roppongi, I was at once relieved to see everyone busy in their own works. No commotions, no disturbances, no overstated welcomes, nothing – all calm and quiet. Sayaka introduced me to some members of the staff and all of them responded with much warmth and affection.

The Expedia office in Tokyo, Japan

The official and adorably cute mascot of the Expedia Japan, the Expibear

[In the pic: Sayaka (left) and Natsuko - marketing director (right)]

I wandered around the office and appreciated the casual décor of the place as Sayaka went on to explain the working model of the company.

Expedia Japan Office

I glared at the computer screens of the people working there in a curious attempt to make out what exactly they were doing at their work stations. The amazing thing was that they never stared back and generally remained engrossed in their work. A few people returned pleasant smiles but that was it, no one ogled back thus ensuring that I feel relaxed, comfortable and at ease at all times.The views from their glass balcony were impressive. Amid all the concrete, the picture of the red and white painted 333 mtr. high Tokyo tower touching the skies was splendid.

The Tokyo Tower: View from the balcony

Later after completing the office tour, I was delighted to be presented with a big goodie bag that included a stuffed Expibear and a few stickers.

The ExpiBear that came in my Goodie bag

To add something more to it, there was a surprise lunch with four members of their staff members organized for us.

At Potager Veg Sushi Restaurant, Tokyo - My First Sushi

The entire arrangement was so artistic and beautiful,I actually didn't feel like disturbing it.

My first sushi – vegetable sushi - platter accompanied
with some insightfully engaging banter with the lively and spirited
Expedia staff was a delight and made for a fun afternoon.

Expedians helping us plan out our activities for the next day

All in all, the warmth of my Expedia friends, a lot of
glorious food and the wonderful company along with some great
conversations kept growing in charm all through the afternoon...

Warm, lively and spirited: The 4 Expedians

... giving me
very little reason for not marking something that I initially dreaded,
as one of the memorable highlights of my Japan trip!

Getting there:It's a short walk from Villa fontaine Roppongi, the hotel in Tokyo where I stayed.Roppongi First Building, 7F,1-9-9 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo,106-0032 Japan+81(03)4577-3201shirayama@airasiaexpedia.com

oh, wish would also have the same opportunity as you but you very much deserve this Arti, and soooo happy for you. I admire the dedication Japanese employees put in their work, and their professionalism you shared. looking forward to more of your trip and journey in Japan.

the ExpiBear is so cute! and yes they all look warm, lively and spirited: The 4 Expedians...I am sure you had as you described a memorable Japan trip! I think I too would not have wanted to destroy the artistic arrangement of the Sushi haha, I am sure you are having a fabulous week :-)thank you for taking the time to visit my humble world....

Glad to see u enjoyed ur trip arti..it's good to get acquainted with locals.. That really makes us feel like living a life in Japanese style and in getting to know more of their culture... They are synonymous with hard wok isn't it!???

Wow! They know how to treat a guest. Did you come to enjoy sushi at all? We've never been to Japan, but we love sushi... both in Florida and Oregon there are many Japanese restaurants that serve it. (I wish I could compare it to some made in Japan ;>)

Hi Arti, Thanks a lot for your review of my blog, I have tried and incorporated all your suggetions regarding the layout, though I am not very good at it, your feedback was really encouraging. I am so glad to have come across your blog, it is just so wonderful and so is your post on Japan. Thanks once again and take care...

@Mareta @Sallie @Cloud NineI guess, the real beauty of Sushi for me was more in its visual appeal rather than the taste. And even when I was having my first Sushi, the delightful company I was in was more engaging and managed to take the real cakes. :)

Arti....The details are fascinating..:)The Expedia office offers a great ambiance! Would love to work in that kind of an environment, any day!Aah, so you tasted 'Sushi'! Am relieved that it was a veg one, else, I would have been sooo Jealous...lol!<3The pics are awesome..please do keep updating us!

the best thing about your posts are...everything falls in the right place at the right time..be it photos or words... as if u know what ur reader is expecting . very nice post or should i say event-narration !

Thank you everyone for your kind comments and appreciations. Sushi is not traditionally a vegetarian delicacy but my hosts took pains to find a place which serves a veg one for me. Will post more details later.

It's great you found vegetarian sushi. It is somewhat difficult to get vegetarian food as they use non-veg stock in most of their food items. When i had been there, our organisers had most of our lunches and dinners scheduled at Indian restaurants, which majority of the people in my group including me hated:P We were thankfully treated to a Japanese meal one night. But i was seriously amazed at the number of Indian restaurants that were there in Tokyo. Incidentally, the Japanese love Indian cuisine:)now onto the next entry in this travelogue:)

Your Like is My Motivation

Subscribe to my Journeys via Email

My Yatra Diary...

I love traveling to spiritual destinations in India and chronicle them in my diary here. Complete with extensive description that includes delightful photographs, places to stay and eat, shopping and much more, the blog aims to help those planning to make a trip to these places or simply provide a virtual tour to the rest.
If you have any queries, do leave a comment, I will be pleased to help!
You can also contact me at - 22arti@gmail.com